Reuters — Top fertilizer maker Nutrien on Wednesday agreed to acquire Casa do Adubo S.A., as part of its ambitions to expand its Brazilian retail business. The deal marks Nutrien’s sixth acquisition in Brazil since 2019, when it set a strategic goal to build its market share in a country that is vital to feeding […] Read more

Nutrien buys expanded ag retail presence in Brazil

Brazil seen adding wheat area, fewer acres in Argentina
MarketsFarm — As farmers in Brazil plant more wheat this year, their counterparts in Argentina are cutting back on the amount of acres they plan to sow — although Argentina will still grow a great deal more wheat than Brazil. Dr. Michael Cordonnier of Soybean and Corn Advisor Inc. at Hinsdale, Ill. said one reason […] Read more

U.S. grains: Supply worries, weather spur rallies
Market awaits USDA world crop report; rains delay U.S. spring wheat plantings
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade grain and soybean futures jumped on Wednesday, as traders uneasy about world supplies adjusted positions a day before the release of U.S. crop data. Concerns about poor global crop weather helped support gains, with MGEX spring wheat futures setting contract highs as rains prevent plantings in the […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Traders look to skies for market guidance
MarketsFarm — Much of the focus from the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) for the week ended Wednesday has shifted away from besieged Ukraine — and toward areas closer to home. Prices for nearby corn and soybean contracts rose over the past week due to weather-related rallies, but wheat prices held rangebound. The U.S. northern […] Read more

China’s hog output recovers, drags on Brazil pork exports
China's total Q1 pork imports down 64 per cent
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazilian pork exporters are grappling with a drop in volumes shipped to their main buyer, China, which has increased its pork meat production after an outbreak of African swine fever in 2018. ASF forced China to cull millions of hogs and increase imports. China continued to be Brazil’s top pork […] Read more

Brazil’s changing conditions threaten corn crop
MarketsFarm — Over the last three to four weeks growing conditions in Brazil have pulled a complete reversal — and that poses a serious threat to the country’s corn crop, according to Dr. Michael Cordonnier of Soybean and Corn Advisor Inc. The southern half of the country is now faced with wet conditions, while the […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures top two-week high
Chicago cattle futures ease
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures rallied to their highest price in more than two weeks on Monday, while live cattle and feeder cattle futures weakened. Hopes for increased domestic demand from summertime grilling and cookouts helped lift hog futures, analysts said. They added that surging grain and soybean futures raised […] Read more

JBS says U.S. domestic and international businesses to remain strong
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazilian meatpacker JBS, which operates multiple food processing facilities in the U.S. and one of Canada’s largest beef packing plants, said its North American operations will continue to drive performance. Speaking at a conference call to discuss fourth-quarter results, management said JBS will benefit from strong U.S. domestic demand for […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hogs firm amid market uncertainty
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures climbed on Monday as traders attempted to make sense of changing trade restrictions and allowances. “The market’s trying to sort out all these trade protection measures,” said Alan Brugler, president of Brugler Marketing. “Everybody seems to want imports, and nobody wants to export anything.” CME April […] Read more

Canada allows Brazilian beef and pork, Brazil ag minister says
Updated, March 15 — Reuters — Canada has approved the importation of beef and pork from Brazil, which had been blocked over health concerns, authorities from both countries said on Monday. “We are in Ottawa and have just left the Canadian Ministry of Agriculture with … great news: the opening up of the country’s pork […] Read more